Automated awning

ABSTRACT

An automated awning comprises a main shaft connected to a screw rod through a sleeve by a screw means. The screw rod is driven by a motor to activate a first support rod and a second support rod to slide forward or backward sliding motion. A main support bracket is disposed between the main shaft and a second support rod, and a spring is disposed between the main support bracket and the main shaft. There are deep and shallow grooves and a slopped surface within the second support rod; a free rotor and a fixed rotor are inserted therein. A tube body is mounted on a motor mount and enclosing the first support rod. The tube body is then inserted into an outer tube. As the screw rod drives the first and second support rods forward, a gear teeth strip on one side of said first link rod stretches a spring so as to open a sun roof by extending the second main support rod, the second link rod and the third main support rod; the rotors are retained on the slopped surface for fixing the main support bracket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to automated awnings, more particularly toan automated awning capable of opening and closing automatically,therefore saving space, operation time and manpower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional automated awnings used in automobiles shield solarradiations from inside the car, which cannot prevent the absorption ofsolar radiations by the car bodies and the temperature rise within thecars. It is a further disadvantage that the awnings should be installedon each of the car windows and the wind shield and that they have to betaken down when the car is in use, which is very inconvenient. Anothertype of awnings is for being used with outside coffee tables. Theawnings of this type have large surface area, which are difficult toinstall and will occupy storage space when they are not in use.Therefore, the present invention provides an automated awning capable ofopening and closing automatically, thereby saving space, operation timeand manpower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to automated awnings, more particularly toan automated awning capable of opening and closing automatically,therefore saving space, operation time and manpower. The various objectsand advantages of the present invention will be more readily understoodfrom the following detailed description when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings.

To achieve above object, the present invention provides an automatedawning, comprising: a screw rod 100 driven by a motor for urging a firstsupport rod and a second support rod to slide along an axial direction,the also pushing a free rotor and a fixed rotor so as to drive a mainsupport bracket and a first main support rod; a tube body enclosing thescrew rod and mounted on a motor mount, the a tube body furtherincluding; a first support rod is provided with a block piece, wherebythe first support rod will be stopped by a ring stop on one side of thetube body, a front end of the first support rod being further providedwith a fixing mount, whereby a first support rod and a tube body will beheld together tightly by an outer ring stop of the tube body; a secondsupport rod with a top fixing mount provided with inner grooves ofdifferent depth, a slopped surface and an inner screw thread, the secondsupport rod containing a free rotor and a fixed rotor, the secondsupport rod further including a block piece for engaging with ring stopat one end of the first support rod; a main shaft connected to the screwrod through a sleeve by a screw; and a main support bracket disposedbetween the main shaft and the second support rod, the main supportbracket further comprising a first main support rod with one endconnected to the main support bracket and driven by the main supportbracket to carry a main link rod and a first link rod, a main link rodwith a first end connected to a fixing mount of a second main supportrod and a second end connected to a predetermined location on the firstmain support rod, a first link rod attached with a spring with a firstend provided with a teeth strip that is engaged with a gear wheel on asecond main support rod and a second end connected to a predeterminedlocation on the main link rod, a second main support rod attached with aspring with a first end provided with a teeth strip that is engaged witha gear wheel on a first main support rod and a second end connected to apredetermined location on a third main support rod, a second link rodwith a first end connected to the first main support rod and a secondend connected to a third main support rod and a third main support rodwith free first end and a second end connected to the second mainsupport rod and the second link rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the fist preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an enlarged local portion of thepreferred embodiment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of an enlarged local portion of thepreferred embodiment in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an exploded lateral cross-sectional view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top and a front cross-sectional views of a component of apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an enlarged local portion of apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventioninstalled on a car roof.

FIG. 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionopened on a car roof.

FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionopened to cover a car body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 2-A, 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention as an automated awning comprises a screw rod 100,a first support rod 200, a second support rod 300, a block piece 4, amain shaft 500 and a main support bracket 600. The main shaft 500 isconnected to a screw rod 100 through a sleeve 20 by a screw 10. Thescrew rod 100, further comprising coaxially engaged and mutuallycontractible tube parts A, B, C and D (11, 12, 13 and 14), is driven bya motor so that the first support rod 200 and the second support rod 300can move backward or forward. The tube part D 14 further comprises apush head 140 for pushing a free rotor 30 and a fixed rotor 40, wherebythe screw rod 100, coupled with the first support rod 200 and the secondsupport rod 300, will move in the forward or backward direction. Themain support bracket 600 is disposed between the main shaft 500 and thesecond support rod 300, and a spring 50 is disposed between the mainsupport bracket 600 and the main shaft 500. There are deep and shallowgrooves 1, 2 and a slopped surface 3 within the second support rod 300;the free rotor 30 and the fixed rotor 40 are inserted therein. A tubebody is mounted on a motor mount and enclosing the first support rod.The front end of the tube body 400 is provided with an inner ring stop410 and an outer ring stop 410. The tube body 400 is then inserted intoan outer tube 700.

The main shaft 500 is mounted on a cover body 70 and connected to thescrew rod 100 via a sleeve 20 by a screw 10. The second support rod 300is enclosed by the screw rod 100, and the first support rod 200 isenclosed by the second support rod 300. The main support bracket 600 isdisposed between the main shaft 500 and the second support rod 300, andthe spring 50 is disposed between the main support bracket 600 and themain shaft 500. The tube body 400 encloses the first support rod 200 andis then mounted on the motor mount. It is then inserted into an outertube 700. The first support rod 200 has a hexagonal cross sectionencircled by a block piece 4, by which the first support rod 200 will bestopped by the ring stop 410 on one side of the tube body 400. The frontend of the first support rod 200 is further provided with a fixing mount410, by which the first support rod 200 and the tube body 400 will beheld together tightly by an outer ring stop 430 of the tube body 400.

The second support rod 300 has a hexagonal cross section encircled by ablock piece 4, by which the second support rod 300 will be stopped bythe ring stop 410 on one side of the first support rod 200. The frontend of the second support rod 300 is further provided with a fixingmount 310, by which the first support rod 200 and the second support rod300 will be held together tightly by an outer ring stop 430 of the tubebody 400.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the fixed rotor 40 isfurther provided with a plurality of bulged outer pieces 401, and thefree rotor 30 is provided with a plurality of depressed outer pieces301. Thereby, when the screw rod 100 is drawing the tube parts A, B, Cand D (11, 12, 13 and 14), the main support bracket 600 is retainedagainst the slopped surface 3 for confining the free rotor 30 and thefixed rotor 40. The motor drives the screw rod 100 for pushing the freerotor 30 to engage with the fixed rotor 40, so that the fixed rotor 40will rotate over a predetermined angle and then be guided by the sloppedsurface 3 to enter the deep groove 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second support rod 300 is provided with afixing mount 310 corresponding to an engagement head 311 and connectedto a main link rod 51. The main link rod 51 has a first end connected toa fixing mount 310 of a second main support rod 54 and a second endconnected to a predetermined location on said first main support rod 52.The main support bracket 600 is disposed between the main shaft 500 andthe second support rod 300. The main support bracket 600 furthercomprises a first main support rod 52 with one end connected to the mainsupport bracket 600 and driven by the main support bracket 600 to carrya main link rod 51 and a first link rod 53. The main support bracket 600is further provided with a taper shank twist connector 610 forcompressing spring 50 by pushing against a flange 510 around the mainshaft 500. The rear end of the taper shank twist connector 610 issupported against the fixed rotor 40 and the free rotor 30. Theconnecting section 611 of the taper shank twist connector 610 isconnected to the first main support 52 and then drives the main link rodand the first ink rod 53. The first link rod 53 is attached with aspring with a first end provided with a teeth strip that is engaged witha gear wheel on a second main support rod 54 and a second end connectedto a predetermined location on said main link rod 52. The second mainsupport rod 54 is attached with a spring with a first end provided witha teeth strip that is engaged with a gear wheel on a first main supportrod 52 and a second end connected to a predetermined location on a thirdmain support rod. The second link rod has a first end connected to afirst main support rod 52 and a second end connected to a third mainsupport rod and a third main support rod with free first end and asecond end connected to the second main support rod 54.

Referring to FIG. 6, the screw rod 100 is driven by a motor for urgingthe first support rod 200 and the second support rod 300 to slide alongan axial direction. The screw rod 100 also pushes the free rotor 30 andthe fixed rotor 40 so as to drive the main support bracket 600 and thefirst main support rod 52. The first main support rod 52 is lifted bythe main support bracket 600, simultaneously driving the main link rod51 and the first link rod 53. A gear teeth strip on one side of thefirst link rod 53 stretching a spring so as to open a sun roof byextending the second main support rod 54, the second link rod 56 and thethird main support rod 55. The rotors 30, 40 are retained on the sloppedsurface 3 for fixing the main support bracket 600. The spring 50 isstretched between the main support bracket 600 and the taper shank twistconnector 610 due to the opening of the cover body 70 by the forwardlymoving main shaft 500.

Refer to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 for another preferred embodiment,wherein the automated awning 800 is mounted atop a car 900 said sloppedsurface 3 is for confining said free rotor 30 and said fixed rotor 40,thereby said main support bracket 600 being retained; said motor drivingsaid screw rod 100 for pushing said free rotor 30 to engage with saidfixed rotor 40 and then be guided by said slopped surface 3 to entersaid deep groove 2. The screw rod 100 is driven by a motor for urgingthe first support rod 200 and the second support rod 300 to slide alongan axial direction. The screw rod 100 also pushes the free rotor 30 andthe fixed rotor 40 so as to drive the main support bracket 600 and thefirst main support rod 52. The first main support rod 52 is lifted bythe main support bracket 600, simultaneously driving the main link rod51 and the first link rod 53. The first main support rod 52 is descendedby the main support bracket 600. The main link rod 51 and The first linkrod 53 are converging toward the second support rod 300 simultaneously.A contractible spring pulls back the second main support rod 54, thesecond link rod 56 and the third main support rod 55. The motor drawsthe first support rod 200, the second support rod 300, the main link rod51, the various main support rods and link rods into the outer tube 700,thereby achieving a closing process saving manpower and time and aclosing configuration saving space.

The taper shank twist connector 610 of the main support bracket 600 isengaged with the fixed mount 310 of the second support rod 300 when saidautomated awning 800 is in a closed configuration. The taper shank twistconnector 610 of the main support bracket 600 keeps a proper distance tothe fixed mount 310 of the second support rod 300 when the automatedawning 800 is in an open configuration.

The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, andall such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automated awning, comprising: a screw roddriven by a motor for urging a first support rod and a second supportrod to slide along an axial direction, said also pushing a free rotorand a fixed rotor 40 so as to drive a main support bracket and a firstmain support rod; a tube body enclosing said screw rod and mounted on amotor mount, said a tube body further including a first support rod isprovided with a block piece, whereby said first support rod will bestopped by a ring stop on one side of said tube body, a front end of thefirst support rod being further provided with a fixing mount, whereby afirst support rod and a tube body will be held together tightly by anouter ring stop of said tube body; a second support rod with a topfixing mount provided with inner grooves of different depth, a sloppedsurface and an inner screw thread, said second support rod containing afree rotor and a fixed rotor, said second support rod further includinga block piece for engaging with ring stop at one end of said firstsupport rod; a main shaft connected to said screw rod through a sleeveby a screw; and a main support bracket disposed between said main shaftand said second support rod, said main support bracket furthercomprising a first main support rod with one end connected to said mainsupport bracket and driven by said main support bracket to carry a mainlink rod and a first link rod, a main link rod with a first endconnected to a fixing mount of a second main support rod and a secondend connected to a predetermined location on said first main supportrod, a first link rod attached with a spring with a first end providedwith a teeth strip that is engaged with a gear wheel on a second mainsupport rod and a second end connected to a predetermined location onsaid main link rod, a second main support rod attached with a springwith a first end provided with a teeth strip that is engaged with a gearwheel on a first main support rod and a second end connected to apredetermined location on a third main support rod, a second link rodwith a first end connected to said first main support rod and a secondend connected to a third main support rod and a third main support rodwith free first end and a second end connected to said second mainsupport rod and said second link rod.
 2. The automated awning of claim 1further comprising an outer tube.
 3. The automated awning of claim 1wherein said screw rod further comprises four tube parts of variousdiameters, achieving a contractible rod.
 4. The automated awning ofclaim 3 wherein one of said tube parts is provided with a back-and-forthmovable push head for pushing said free rotor and said fixed rotor. 5.The automated awning of claim 1 wherein said second support rod isprovided with an outer ring stop for confining said first support rodwith said second support rod.
 6. The automated awning of claim 1 whereina spring is disposed between said main support bracket and said mainshaft.
 7. The automated awning of claim 1 wherein said main supportbracket 600 is provided with a taper shank twist connector whose top endcompresses said spring against a flange around said main shaft 500, andwhose rear end is supported against said free rotor and said fixedrotor.
 8. The automated awning of claim 7 wherein said taper shank twistconnector 610 further comprises a connection portion connected to saidfirst main support rod.
 9. The automated awning of claim 1 wherein saidmain support bracket 600 further comprises an engagement section forconnecting said main link rod.
 10. The automated awning of claim 1wherein said fixed rotor 40 is provided with a plurality of bulged outerpieces
 401. 11. The automated awning of claim 1 wherein said free rotoris provided with a plurality of depressed outer pieces.
 12. Theautomated awning of claim 1 wherein said slopped surface is forconfining said free rotor and said fixed rotor, thereby said mainsupport bracket being retained; said motor driving said screw rod forpushing said free rotor to engage with said fixed rotor 40 and then beguided by said slopped surface to enter said deep groove.
 13. Theautomated awning of claim 1 wherein said first main support rod islifted by said main support bracket, simultaneously driving said mainlink rod and said first link rod; a gear teeth strip on one side of saidfirst link rod stretching a spring so as to open a sun roof by extendingsaid second main support rod, said second link rod and said third mainsupport rod; said rotors being retained on said slopped surface forfixing said main support bracket.
 14. The automated awning of claim 1wherein said first main support rod is descended by said main supportbracket, said main link rod and said first link rod converging towardsaid second support rod simultaneously; a contractible spring pullingback said second main support rod, said second link rod and said thirdmain support rod; said motor drawing said first support rod, said secondsupport rod, said main link rod, said various main support rods and linkrods into said outer tube, thereby achieving a closing process savingmanpower and time and a closing configuration saving space.
 15. Theautomated awning of claim 1 wherein said taper shank twist connector ofsaid main support bracket is engaged with said fixed mount of saidsecond support rod when said automated awning is in a closedconfiguration; said taper shank twist connector of said main supportbracket keeping a proper distance to said fixed mount of said secondsupport rod when said automated awning is in an open configuration.